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Abstract/Description

A selection programme (PNSO) was set up in 1983 in Cote d'Ivoire to increase growth and liveweight of the indigenous Djallonke sheep, using open nucleus breeding system. Selection was based on male individual weight at 80, 180 and 365 days of age. This paper Reports results of analyses of 10,417 records on 80 day weights (WT80) of lambs born between 1984 and 1992 from 29 participating farmers. Male and single born lambs outweighed female and multiple born lambs by 0.8 and 1.7 kg, respectively. Lambs born in hot and wet season had the highest WT80 whereas cool and wet season born lambs had the lowest weights. Repeatability and heritability of WT80 were estimated at .196 and .065, respectively. Although the effect of year of birth was significant, there was an up and down trend in WT80, leading to significant negative phenotypic (-152 g/year) and environmental (-180 g/year) trends. Estimated breeding value for WT80 increased, on average, by 28 g/year during the study period.